Best Way To Book A Cruise?

[SandyinMonterey]

Just wondering, especially for those who cruise often on DCL, which way do you book/make reservation"
1. On line
2. Travel Agent
3. Call DCL directly (hopefully you can get through)

 

[Geomom]

We use Dreams Unlimited travel agency (a sponsor of these boards). The first time we booked with them was due to the onboard credit that they offer. Now we're so happy that we use them as they're the ones making the calls when you have a placeholder booking. I was so thankful to have a TA during all the Covid cancellations. Any changes to the reservation and payments go through the TA (directly to DCL), but you do online check in, book port adventures, etc on your own.

 

[MichelleCanada]

We liked booking ourselves directly online with DCL and then transferring to a TA afterwards.

We have also booked online through Costco and it was very easy to make payments without having to phone anyone. Plus we got the Costco shop card back when our cruise was done.

 

[catsrgr8]

We’ve booked with Costco as well. We found them very easy to work with and have used them for placeholder reservations as well. Sometimes the room availability online at DCL and Costco will differ but if you call Costco they can call DCL to get any rooms you see available on DCL. You can also cancel, make modifications etc online for Costco, which is an advantage over DCL where you need to call to cancel.

 

[auntlynne]

I like to deal directly but non-personally via online booking. If I want to talk to Disney, I don’t want to hear “you booked through a TA, you need to go through them.”

TAs are great for those who are okay with or prefer having someone knowledgeable helping them. And OBC or gifts are a nice touch. You don’t pay more for the cruise - DCL pays the commission.

 

[Minnie352]

I'll second the vote for Dreams Unlimited (TA). Always excellent service and onboard credit.

 

[Cheburashka]

Just wondering, especially for those who cruise often on DCL, which way do you book/make reservation"
1. On line
2. Travel Agent
3. Call DCL directly (hopefully you can get through)

I like to book directly via DCL's website then call DCL to add any details like hotel stays or private table request or to check for stateroom availability that isn't visible on the website. Then I transfer the cruise to Costco Travel to get a Costco cash card back after the cruise for 8.5% of the base cruise cost, plus an extra 2% cash back via my Costco executive membership, and an extra 3% back via my Costco Visa card. That adds up to a tidy discount.

When I book a placeholder onboard, I have it transferred to Costco when I get home, then book the cruise via Costco Travel. The Costco Travel discounts go on top of the 10% placeholder discount.

 

[Punjabi_Express]

I like to book directly via DCL's website then call DCL to add any details like hotel stays or private table request or to check for stateroom availability that isn't visible on the website. Then I transfer the cruise to Costco Travel to get a Costco cash card back after the cruise for 8.5% of the base cruise cost, plus an extra 2% cash back via my Costco executive membership, and an extra 3% back via my Costco Visa card. That adds up to a tidy discount.

When I book a placeholder onboard, I have it transferred to Costco when I get home, then book the cruise via Costco Travel. The Costco Travel discounts go on top of the 10% placeholder discount.

How do you transfer the placeholder to Costco?

 

[Cheburashka]

How do you transfer the placeholder to Costco?

Call Costco Travel and they will email you a very simple form to fill out and email back to them. You have to transfer the cruise or placeholder within 30 days of booking (allow a few days for processing, so I wouldn't risk waiting until day 29) to get the benefits, and you also cannot yet be paid in full.

 

[maui2k5]

(Deleted)

 

[CapnCrunch]

I like to book directly via DCL's website then call DCL to add any details like hotel stays or private table request or to check for stateroom availability that isn't visible on the website. Then I transfer the cruise to Costco Travel to get a Costco cash card back after the cruise for 8.5% of the base cruise cost, plus an extra 2% cash back via my Costco executive membership, and an extra 3% back via my Costco Visa card. That adds up to a tidy discount.

When I book a placeholder onboard, I have it transferred to Costco when I get home, then book the cruise via Costco Travel. The Costco Travel discounts go on top of the 10% placeholder discount.

Do you still get the full 8.5% Costco cash card if using a placeholder or is it a reduced amount?

 

[lanejudy]

We usually book directly with DCL online.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Used to use Costco bc of the great gift card deal, but if you ever have any changes, want to make a request, have any issue, you call Costco travel and wait on hold for them to answer and then they call Disney and you wait on hold for Disney to answer and it's a huge PITA (once we needed to make a change and were coming up on the deadline, and it took several times of me waiting on hold all day to get it done). Now I will only use Dreams. Got an issue? Want to make a request? Send one email and it's DONE!

 

[CamColt]

Another vote for Dreams Unlimited, who also sponsors these Boards.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We're now using DU as our TA (totally done with using DVC pts.).

 

[Kwami]

I use a TA from a different agency. He calls Disney so that I don't have to and that works out great for me. Plus, I usually get onboard credits and sometimes other gifts. And, he gets some of the money that I spent instead of Disney taking it all.

I guess I lose a small amount of control because I have to ask the TA to make changes, but so far, that's never been a problem. He fixes everything pretty quickly.

 

[ILikeWaffles]

I often us TA not through Dreams Unlimited. I used Dreams unlimited once, and I had a pretty bad experience with the TA that was assigned to me. I know other people also had issues with the particular agent, but generally the agency gets rave reviews.

 

[tvguy]

I use a Travel Agent. Never understood the concern about "losing control" of my trip. All I lose is work that the TA does for free.

 

[Kwami]

I use a Travel Agent. Never understood the concern about "losing control" of my trip. All I lose is work that the TA does for free.

I guess the worry is that you might need to make last-minute changes and the TA won't be available to handle it quickly enough. Or, you want to book a specific room on Platinum booking day, but the TA won't be available early enough that day. Stuff like that.

 

[tvguy]

I guess the worry is that you might need to make last-minute changes and the TA won't be available to handle it quickly enough. Or, you want to book a specific room on Platinum booking day, but the TA won't be available early enough that day. Stuff like that.

See, last minute changes are exactly why I use a Travel Agent. If I have an issue my Travel Agent runs a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, 365 day a year client hotline. Unlike the cruise lines, this hotline is answered immediately. No waiting on hold for 4 hours. The Travel Agent does that to make the changes I need.